William Madison Whittington
Encyclopedia
William Madison Whittington (May 4, 1878 - August 20, 1962) was a Democratic
politician from Mississippi
. Whittington was a Representative
to the 69th United States Congress
in 1925, and the twelve succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1925-January 3, 1951).
Born in Little Springs, Mississippi, Whittington attended the public schools of Franklin County. He graduated from Mississippi College
at Clinton in 1898 and from the law department of the University of Mississippi
at Oxford
in 1899 where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall
, also known as the Delta Psi fraternity. He was admitted to the bar in 1899 and commenced practice in Roxie, Mississippi
, January 1, 1901. In January 1904 he moved to Greenwood, Mississippi
, where he continued the practice of law and also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served as a member of the city council, Greenwood, Mississippi
, from January 1, 1907, to January 1, 1911. He served as member of the State senate from January 1, 1916, to January 1, 1920. He was reelected in 1923 for a four-year term and served from January 1 to August 16, 1924, when he resigned to accept the Democratic nomination for Representative in Congress. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1920, 1928, 1936, 1940, and 1948.
He served as chairman of the Committee on Flood Control (Seventy-fifth through Seventy-ninth Congresses), Committee on Public Works (Eighty-first Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1950, when he resumed the practice of law.
He was a resident of Greenwood, Mississippi
, until his death August 20, 1962, and was interred in Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. Whittington was a Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
to the 69th United States Congress
69th United States Congress
The Sixty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1925 to March 4, 1927, during the third and fourth...
in 1925, and the twelve succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1925-January 3, 1951).
Born in Little Springs, Mississippi, Whittington attended the public schools of Franklin County. He graduated from Mississippi College
Mississippi College
Mississippi College, also known as MC, is a private, Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi. Mississippi College comprises the main campus in Clinton, as well as satellite campuses in Brandon and Madison, Mississippi, and the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson...
at Clinton in 1898 and from the law department of the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
at Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
in 1899 where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall, also known as Saint Anthony Hall and The Order of St. Anthony, is a national college literary society also known as the Fraternity of Delta Psi at colleges in the United States of America. St...
, also known as the Delta Psi fraternity. He was admitted to the bar in 1899 and commenced practice in Roxie, Mississippi
Roxie, Mississippi
Roxie is a town in Franklin County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 569 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Roxie is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, January 1, 1901. In January 1904 he moved to Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta approximately 96 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, and 130 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The population was 15,205 at the 2010 census. It is the...
, where he continued the practice of law and also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served as a member of the city council, Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta approximately 96 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, and 130 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The population was 15,205 at the 2010 census. It is the...
, from January 1, 1907, to January 1, 1911. He served as member of the State senate from January 1, 1916, to January 1, 1920. He was reelected in 1923 for a four-year term and served from January 1 to August 16, 1924, when he resigned to accept the Democratic nomination for Representative in Congress. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1920, 1928, 1936, 1940, and 1948.
He served as chairman of the Committee on Flood Control (Seventy-fifth through Seventy-ninth Congresses), Committee on Public Works (Eighty-first Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1950, when he resumed the practice of law.
He was a resident of Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta approximately 96 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, and 130 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The population was 15,205 at the 2010 census. It is the...
, until his death August 20, 1962, and was interred in Odd Fellows Cemetery.
External links
- William M. Whittington collection (MUM00476) can be found at the University of Mississippi, Archives and Special Collections